How Spud Gun Studios Took Mashed Independent and Built a Digital-First Powerhouse
This week on TellyCast, Justin Crosby is joined by Tom Jenkins, Creative Director of Spud Gun Studios, the digital-first indie behind the hugely popular animation channel Mashed. Fresh from taking full ownership of the brand from Channel 4, Tom reveals how the studio is building on Mashed’s global fanbase of nearly seven million followers, striking new brand partnerships with the likes of Xbox and Baldur’s Gate, and winning four awards at the inaugural TellyCast Digital Video Awards. He shares insights on developing fan-focused animation in the new production economy, diversifying revenue through branded content, Patreon and FAST channels, and why staying human-made is central to their creative ethos in an era of AI-generated “slop.”Knights of Guinevere trailerSign up for The Drop newsletterSupport the showBuy tickets for the TellyCast Digital Content Forum Subscribe to the TellyCast YouTube channel for exclusive TV industry videosFollow us on LinkedInConnect with Justin on LinkedINTellyCast videos on YouTubeTellyCast websiteTellyCast instaTellyCast TwitterTellyCast TikTok
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5 Things Every Content Producer Needs To Know About Brand-funded Content
Branded entertainment is booming - but how can producers really work with brands? In this TellyCast episode, Justin Crosby talks to brand funded content specialist Charlie Read, founder of Upstream, about the five things every content producer needs to know about brand-funded content. From understanding business outcomes and audience insight to building IP with brands, learning their language, and shifting from interruption to engagement, this episode is a practical guide to the fast-growing branded content space.Charlie's Story of the Week https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/aug/28/bland-easy-to-follow-for-fans-of-everything-what-has-the-netflix-algorithm-done-to-our-filmsSign up for The Drop newsletterSupport the showBuy tickets for the TellyCast Digital Content Forum Subscribe to the TellyCast YouTube channel for exclusive TV industry videosFollow us on LinkedInConnect with Justin on LinkedINTellyCast videos on YouTubeTellyCast websiteTellyCast instaTellyCast TwitterTellyCast TikTok
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Dhanny Joshi on Building Big Deal Films and the Future of Social Video
Big Deal Films co-founder Dhanny Joshi joins Justin Crosby to share how he turned a call centre hustle into a BAFTA-winning indie. They discuss breaking through with Dreaming Whilst Black, navigating the commissioning crisis, and why digital-first, talent-led content is the future of TV.Sign up for The Drop newsletterSupport the showBuy tickets for the TellyCast Digital Content Forum Subscribe to the TellyCast YouTube channel for exclusive TV industry videosFollow us on LinkedInConnect with Justin on LinkedINTellyCast videos on YouTubeTellyCast websiteTellyCast instaTellyCast TwitterTellyCast TikTok
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Endangered Species? Ofcom’s Cristina Nicolotti Squires on Saving Public Service Media
This week on TellyCast, Justin Crosby sits down with Ofcom’s Director of Broadcasting and Media, Cristina Nicolotti Squires, for a deep dive into the regulator’s urgent six-point action plan to save public service media in the digital-first era. With younger audiences flocking to YouTube, Netflix and TikTok, and PSBs losing share, is the UK’s broadcast model reaching a breaking point? Christina unpacks the tough questions: securing YouTube prominence, the future of Freeview, public funding for news and kids content, and why media literacy and strategic collaboration are vital to survival. Essential listening for anyone working in public service, digital-first or social video production.Includes key insights on:Why PSBs are losing visibility and what can be doneThe digital terrestrial TV dilemma and future of FreeviewAI, misinformation and media literacy in the online content eraWhether it’s already too late to save UK public service broadcastingListen now and stay ahead of the changing media landscape.Sign up for The Drop newsletterSupport the showBuy tickets for the TellyCast Digital Content Forum Subscribe to the TellyCast YouTube channel for exclusive TV industry videosFollow us on LinkedInConnect with Justin on LinkedINTellyCast videos on YouTubeTellyCast websiteTellyCast instaTellyCast TwitterTellyCast TikTok
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Taf Makopa: Creator-Led Formats & The Future of Social Video
This week on TellyCast, Justin Crosby sits down with Taf Makopa, founder of Mako Studios and one of the most exciting new forces in digital production. Taf reveals his first slate of four brand-funded shows with BoohooMan — including Are You Even Real?, a dating series hosted by UK rap icon Chip, and Luke Comes Home, a Luke Littler documentary featuring Angry Ginge.In this candid conversation, Taf unpacks why talent-first formats are the future, how brand-creator partnerships are evolving, and why social video is no longer just “digital TV” - it’s its own creative economy.Expect honest reflections on leaving Wall of Entertainment, the business of making hit social formats on a budget, and how Mako Studios plans to shake up the industry.Sign up for The Drop newsletterSupport the showBuy tickets for the TellyCast Digital Content Forum Subscribe to the TellyCast YouTube channel for exclusive TV industry videosFollow us on LinkedInConnect with Justin on LinkedINTellyCast videos on YouTubeTellyCast websiteTellyCast instaTellyCast TwitterTellyCast TikTok
A weekly podcast featuring opinionated international content industry business leaders joining Justin Crosby to discuss the week's top industry news stories. In each episode we discuss key business developments around the world and look forward to the big moments in the week ahead. New episode every Thursday.
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